My video skills are so awful...

[Rainyday]

Part of it is lack of experience and trying to learn new equipment. But honestly, it's been a long time since I sucked this badly at something...geez. How embarrassing!

[Super-Nicko]

cant be that embarrassing.... your telling us...

get inspired... keep trying... copy the style of others... start small and simple

what is it that sucks... cmon... fill us in...

too shaky? use tripod and dont move camera
too boring? make a movie using 10 second clips - make it 3 min long

editing suck? technological barrier? output issues?

we can try... i suck too but i love a challenge.

[charl1e]

keep practicing, nothing is perfect when you start! set goals for yourself, and you will improve for sure. You could begin projects, and do one each month. for example, a project could be to film a chase scene, or a music video. Each time you will get better! good luck

[Rainyday]

I took out the video camera this morning and practiced for a bit. I'll do it again tomorrow and so on until I become more comfortable shooting video. Thanks for the encouragement, much appreciated.:D

[benesotor]

Do what i do, watch lots of films, and learn to pay attention to how the camera moves and the colour/light is used to give mood. Now i can't help paying attention to the photography which can be a bit annoying when i'm trying to understand a complex story line :P
Artistic gems can be found anywhere, from the news, to small documentaries as well as the blockbuster movies. Just experiment with angles, and the POV which you rest the camera, oh and learning to keep motion steady and smooth is always good ;)

[00silvergt]

Having been a wedding videographer for 10 years, I can tell you that it is no embarrassment, even for seasoned still photographers to suck at video. I remember seeing similar comments on my DV forums when I was still shooting. The dynamics are different.

The basic rules and tips for a beginner videoagrapher are:
1. Video is secondary to Audio quality. Get an external Mic or the Beachtek adaptor when it comes out. Always shoot video with headphones to monitor your sound. They will be like your viewfinder for sound. You would not dream to shot without a viewfinder or a EVF, so why shoot without a mike? The best video can easily be destroyed by bad audio!

2. Use an L bracket or similar device to steady the camera. Slight movements can easily be seen in video and can ruin your video production.

3. Just like in still photography, do not rely on what you think you can do in PP, try to shoot it right while you are shooting, it will save you a lot of time editing later.

4. Always have a backup, use another video camera to back up your shots, do not rely on a single source. Unlike Still Photography, you do not get a chance to reshoot, when working with non-actors. Most people are bad actors and if you miss a shot, there are usually no do overs.

5. Zoom slowly in and out. Fast zooming can really make you audience queasy. The best practice is to zoom in and cut and start the new frame zoomed out. This can be done in post, but easier in camera.

6. Use a tripod with a fluid head. Pans will look smooth vertically and horizontally. Tripods are necessary because it is harder to keep the camera still. Using a camera like a DSLR is really not the best design to handhold the camera, so you should use a tripod, L-Bracket and/or a steady cam of some type.

I hope that helps.